TV: New Zealand a hot destination for Hollywood

By LOUISA CLEAVE

The local film industry is preparing for another summer of international production after strong interest from Hollywood in making movies Down Under.

Her Majesty, a story set during the 1952 visit to New Zealand by the Queen, told from the point of view of a girl, will be filmed around Auckland and Cambridge in November.

The production, using local actors and crew, is not a big-budget movie but Film New Zealand head Jane Gilbert says it shows New Zealand is attracting all kinds of players.

"Her Majesty is important to New Zealand because if we're selling ourselves as the film-makers' destination it includes all film-makers. It is not just about big bucks, it's about working with the creative international industry."

Her Majesty will be produced by Walter Coblenz, who lists the award-winning All The President's Men and The Candidate among his credits.

It is understood 20th Century Fox Television is sending executives to New Zealand next week to scout out locations for a new children's telemovie which would be filmed early next year.

Paul Voigt, Trade NZ's investment manager for film, said his office has dealt with a record number of inquiries, mostly for small to medium films, in the past few weeks.

He said New Zealand's reputation for diverse locations in a small area and an increased international awareness of the local industry was still the main attraction for investors.

However, Hollywood was also casting its eye further afield for other reasons, including the threat of strike action from American writers and actors.

The current exchange rate was also attracting interest.

The next annual survey of international investment in the film industry is expected to at least double last year's $200 million figure, thanks to such productions as Lord of the Rings and Vertical Limit.

Although Film NZ has had a similar number of inquiries from overseas to last year there is one major difference."We're no longer having to educate people about the film industry in New Zealand ... and people are coming to us with a project further down the line than last year," said Gilbert.

"Rather than making inquiries as to what sort of infrastructure we have and saying maybe they might shoot here we're working with projects that have more opportunity of coming alive.

"We're seen as a film destination now. Last year we were seen as a film destination but a lot of things put people off filming here. People thought it was too hard for them to get crew.

"Now, that is not an issue. We've had to work very hard to get that message across ... that a crew would always be available."

American production company Pacific Renaissance, which makes Xena: Warrior Princess in West Auckland, recently announced an indefinite hiatus on shooting the fantasy series Cleopatra 2525.

It is widely expected the company will pull out of New Zealand next March when Xena completes its current series.